A California father who brutally raped his personal teenage daughter has been sentenced to only three years in jail, RadarOnline.com can report.
Stephen Chavez pleaded responsible to at least one felony depend of incest and one misdemeanor depend of furnishing alcohol to a minor in reference to the abuse of his 18-year-old organic daughter, Makayla Settles, who later died by suicide.
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Settles had simply moved to California to start out a brand new life together with her dad.
Settles, 18, was staying together with her organic father, Chavez, at his dwelling in Moorpark, Calif., in July 2025. In line with
Ventura County District Legal professional Erik Nasarenko, “After a day of ingesting at a household gathering, Chavez bought further alcohol for him and his daughter to drink at dwelling.”
“Chavez then engaged in sexual activity together with her.”
Settles died by suicide a number of months later, in December 2025. Her household stated the teenager moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Moorpark in July, longing for a “recent begin” together with her dad. She was additionally trying ahead to beginning faculty.
“Makayla positioned her belief and well-being within the defendant’s care, shifting from North Carolina to California to start out a brand new life with him,” stated Deputy District Legal professional Tessa McCarty. “The defendant violated this belief and shattered the father-daughter relationship in an unimaginable means, conduct for which jail is the one applicable sentence.”
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Since Settles was 18 on the time of the assault, and now not a minor, Chavez confronted restricted expenses. However social media customers nonetheless expressed outrage at what they known as a light-weight sentence.
“This monster will get solely 3 years for raping his personal daughter and pushing her to suicide?” one shocked particular person shared on X. “California’s justice system is a whole joke. He abused his place as a father, they usually deal with it like a parking ticket. Disgusting.”
One other particular person agreed, “Three years – that is so unhappy and unbelievable. Actually simply past pathetic. What a tragic waste,” whereas one particular person exclaimed, “What a disgusting pig! There’s a particular place in h–l for him.”
A fourth particular person expressed: “He received’t final three years inside except he’s put in protecting custody; jail justice is typically the one justice.”
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Chavez was led away in cuffs after pleading responsible
Settles’ mother stated her daughter moved in with Chavez, 41, with guarantees of a automotive and a university financial savings fund.
“She was so assured that over there every thing was simply going to be a dream,” Carolina Sandoval stated. “California dwelling, like what you see on TV.”
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A crushed Makayla took her life months after the assault.
As an alternative, the mother stated Settles was pressured to flee the home of horrors with blood on her legs simply two days later. She was stated to be clutching her cat, passport, ID and a handful of commencement money, and will barely stroll.
Her uncle carried her into Simi Valley Hospital, the place a rape equipment allegedly confirmed the incest, Sandoval stated. The teenager returned dwelling to her mother in Raleigh, the place she struggled with melancholy and psychological well being points, earlier than taking her personal life in December.
“All of that was taken away from her,” Sandoval stated of her little woman’s large plans. “He killed my daughter that evening.”